The biggest slot in British radio has a new voice, and she’s ready to fill your ears, cars, and kitchens. Angela Scanlon has been named the new host of BBC Radio 2’s Drivetime show, taking over the coveted 4pm to 7pm weekday slot from Sara Cox. It’s a major promotion for the Irish presenter, who has spent the summer proving she belongs in the driver’s seat.
A “Summer Fling” That Turned Into a Full-Time Romance
Scanlon isn’t a stranger to Radio 2 listeners. She made her debut on the station’s Sunday early breakfast show back in 2018 and has been filling in on various programmes ever since. But it was her stint covering Drivetime this summer that sealed the deal.
Speaking about the new role, Scanlon described her temporary run as a “little summer fling” that got serious. “We only got to know the best of each other,” she said. “And I want warts and all, like I want to know the listeners’ dirty little secrets, I can’t wait. We’re going steady now, or at least that’s the plan.”
Radio 2 controller Helen Thomas called Scanlon “incredibly warm and quick witted” and said she “proved to be extremely popular with the Radio 2 audience this summer.”
Age and Background: From County Meath to London
Angela Scanlon was born on December 29, 1983, making her 42 years old. She hails from County Meath in Ireland and now calls London home.
Before television, Scanlon earned first-class honours in Business and Marketing from TU Dublin. She started her career as a stylist and journalist before making the leap to on-camera work in 2012, analyzing Oscar red-carpet looks for RTÉ’s Xposé.
Husband and Children: A Private Family Life
Scanlon married Roy Horgan in 2014. Horgan, who is from County Cork, serves as CEO of SES-imagotag plc for the UK and Ireland. He’s notoriously private, rarely appearing in photos, and Scanlon likes it that way. She once described him as “the kindest, smartest, most stubborn man I know. The yin to my yang.”
The couple share two daughters. Ruby Ellen was born in February 2018, and Marnie Fae arrived in February 2022. Scanlon has spoken openly about how becoming a mother improved her mental and physical health after a 15-year battle with eating disorders.
A Career Built on Versatility
Scanlon’s résumé reads like a who’s who of British and Irish television. She’s presented The One Show, This Morning, and Robot Wars. She hosted four series of Your Home Made Perfect on BBC Two and fronted her own Saturday night entertainment show, Angela Scanlon’s Ask Me Anything, on RTÉ One.
In 2023, she swapped the studio for the dancefloor on Strictly Come Dancing. This year alone, she’s co-hosted the BBC’s Eurovision coverage alongside Rylan, fronted The Apprentice: Unfinished Business, and continued co-hosting her chart-topping podcast Get A Grip.
Net Worth and Business Ventures
Scanlon’s earnings have been growing steadily. Her company, AH Productions Limited, reported net assets of €375,120 in 2020, up from €319,672 the previous year. More recent filings showed profits of £419,200, with £368,300 in cash at the bank.
Her net worth has been estimated between £1 million and £5 million, though some sources place it higher at around $7 million. Beyond broadcasting, she founded the jewellery brand Frkl (pronounced “freckle”) in 2021, which is available online and in Brown Thomas.
What She Promises for Drivetime
Scanlon knows exactly what she’s signing up for. She described the 4pm to 7pm slot as “such a beautiful time of day, like school runs and people coming home from work and cooking.”
“Every weekday, I’ll be in your ears, your cars and your kitchens,” she said. “I want all of it: the stories, the opinions, the chaos, the tiny triumphs and the things you probably shouldn’t admit on national radio.”
She also acknowledged the company she’ll be keeping, wedged between Trevor Nelson and Jo Whiley. “Two absolute radio legends,” she called them. “It’s quite the sandwich. I cannot wait to get stuck in.”
The Bottom Line
Angela Scanlon is taking over BBC Radio 2 Drivetime in November, replacing Sara Cox and inheriting one of the most listened-to slots in British radio. She’s a seasoned broadcaster, a businesswoman, a mother of two, and now, the new voice of the commute home. For Scanlon, it’s the culmination of a career built on warmth, wit, and the willingness to say yes to the chaos.
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